Expert: Rod Powers - 11/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: Mr. Powers,

Hello, My name is John Martinez and I am in desperate need of help. I am planning on enlisting in the military in a LE capacity and have currently ruled out the Air Force and Navy due to their lack of said jobs. Currently, The Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are what I am looking at, and was wondering if you could give me a small (I use the term lightly, it can be as long as you want) Description of Law Enforcement Opportunities in each of these branches of the military (MP, CID, ect.), and what Life is like in each of the branches, including training time and quality of life. I am being tugged between the three branches, and while my parents want me to join the Coast Guard, I want to find out as much as I can before I make my final decision. Thank you again!

John M.

ANSWER: Hi John,

Military Police (MPs) perform both law enforcement duties, and security duties. The bad news is, you can't get a guarantee as to whether or not you will be performing LE duties or Security duties in any of the branches.

In one assignment, you may be performing law enforcement duties, at another assignment, you may be guarding a building. No guarantees. It depends on the "needs of the service."

You may wish to read the article, "A Day in the Life of an MP" on my site at: http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/blmplife.htm. While written by an Army MP, it's pretty much the same for both Army and Navy.

MPs (either Army or Marine Corps) who are deployed don't do a whole lot of "law enforcement" duties. Instead, they man "Security Check Points." For details, see the article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/army/a/ardeployedmp.htm.

The Coast Guard Doesn't have "MP's." They do have "Port Security Sepcialists," (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/cgjoin/l/blps.htm), but it's only available in the Coast Guard Reserves.

The Coast Guard also has LE Investigators (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/cgjoin/l/bliv.htm), but this is also only available in the Coast Guard Reserves.

The Army has CID (Criminal Investigation Division) (see: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/a/31d.htm), but this job is not open to new recruits. To qualify, one must have at least two years of Military MP experience.

As to what life is like in each of the branches, you may want to see my article, "What the Recruiter Never Told You" at: http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/recruiter.htm, most especially Part I of the article.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mr. Powers,
Thank you so much, your answer was a great help. The only thing I would like to know now (if its not a bad question to ask) is the difference between the Marine Corps and Army MP programs. I know that both practice hand to hand combat (the marine corps a little more in depth due to the 2001 requirements of EVERYONE learning martial arts), both do normal MP duties, but is there anything outstandingly different about the two? Thank again!

Answer
Hi John,

There's not a whole lot of difference between being an MP in the Army or the Marine Corps. Both jobs include a certain amount of security (like manning checkpoints, or guarding equipment), most especially in combat zones, and both involve assignments and/or periods of LE duties.

The Marines probably offer more hand-to-hand and close-combat training, but that's not necessarily because of the "job" of MP, but rather because the Marine Corps has their own martial arts program for all Marines.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military Information Site at: http://usmilitary.about.com